Opelika, AL
Census place 0157048 · pop 32,820
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
42.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
578 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2647 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
86.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
29.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
16.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.46 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
11.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$65,004 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,662/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$241,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
36.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
69.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
71/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+8.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.49% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Opelika: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Opelika, AL a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Opelika scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is adult obesity. Alabama overall ranks #23 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Opelika, AL?
- Opelika reports 578 violent crimes per 100k and 2647 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Opelika, AL expensive to live in?
- Opelika has a median home value of $241,800 and typical rent around $1,662/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Opelika, AL?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (42.6%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Opelika, AL best at?
- Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.